Rafael Pinheiro

Like most Brazilians, I grew up chasing a dream of soccer greatness. But I always struggled with the fact that the outcome never fully depended on me. At 14, I started Judo, made it to green belt, and then had to stop when my family moved.

That’s when I found Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. At first, I resisted — I thought it wasn’t for me. But a friend kept pushing me until I finally took a class just to get him off my back. And I’ve never looked back.

I lost 55 pounds, entered my first tournament a month later, and even changed my college major from Law to Physical Education so I could build a life around this art. Now, 22 years later, I’m a 3rd-degree black belt. My whole family trains. Jiu-Jitsu is who we are.

It’s an honor to be part of Dino Jiu-Jitsu and to help pass this life-changing art to the next generation.

Lineage
Gastão Gracie> Hello Gracie> Carlson Gracie> Joares Patricio> Hugo Velasco> Rafael Pinheiro